Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

208. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps taken by the Government, including at EU level, to aid organisations offering essential medical and psycho social support in addition to legal support to ensure access to justice and reparation (details supplied); if Ireland contributes to funding the International Commission on Missing Persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina; his views on the recommendations in a recent report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41311/17]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

212. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to recent Dáil Éireann statements on the 22nd anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, the steps he has taken, including at EU level, to aid organisations offering essential medical, psycho-social and legal support to ensure access to justice and reparation; if Ireland contributes to funding the International Commission on Missing Persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina; his views on the recommendations in a recent report by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41755/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 212 together.

I am aware of Amnesty International’s report “ We Need Support, Not Pity” which gives a very disturbing account of the legacy of wartime violence, and in particular the horrific crimes of sexual violence which were perpetrated against the women and girls of Bosnia during the Balkan Wars. I take this opportunity to recall the appalling atrocities at Srebrenica in July 1995, which have left such a stain on the history of the Balkans.

I greatly appreciate all efforts to ensure that those affected are afforded access to adequate rehabilitation, including the medical and psychological assistance which is so critical to recovery. We fully endorse the assistance that the EU provides to NGOs with particular expertise in this area, for example Medica Zenica, Vive Žene, Udružene Žene and the Agency for Cooperation, Education and Development (ACED) and regard the support they provide as essential.

The Government recognises that International Commissions that assist victims and their families and take a strong role in capacity building are important to efforts to contribute to international peace and security. In this respect, funding totalling €300,000 was provided to the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) in 2005 and 2006 by Irish Aid, for their work in the Western Balkans.

Support for the ICMP in the past formed part of Ireland’s efforts to contribute to an effective and responsive approach to peace-building and the promotion and protection of human rights, which are important elements of Ireland’s Policy for International Development – One World, One Future. My Department has been engaging with ICMP to explore future cooperation, and is currently considering a request for funding for a programme in 2017 which will be decided on shortly.

Ireland also continues to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on its European path – an integral part of which is ensuring that human rights, including the right to justice, are fully respected. The European Council has emphasised “the need to continue handling domestic war crimes cases without discrimination, as well as addressing impunity and ensuring accountability”. Along with our European partners, we will continue to ensure that appropriate benchmarks are met in the key areas of justice and fundamental human rights.

The next country report on Bosnia and Herzegovina is expected to be published by the European Commission in late Spring 2018.